Chinese herbal medicine Polygonum perfoliatum can be used to treat nephritis, herpes zoster and other diseases, and it can also prevent respiratory diseases, and also has a good effect on conditioning physique.

The barbecued board is sour and slightly cold, and belongs to lung meridian and bladder meridian. Its efficacy and function are clearing away heat and toxic materials, promoting diuresis, reducing swelling and relieving pain. Clinically, it is used to treat sore throat, cough due to lung heat, infantile cough, edema and oliguria, damp-heat diarrhea, eczema, furuncle and insect bite.

Modern pharmacological research shows that Polygonum perfoliatum has antitussive and expectorant effects, which can shorten the latent period and times of cough and promote expectorant. In addition, Polygonum perfoliatum has anti-tumor effect and other functions, including anti-inflammatory, anti-hepatic fibrosis, anti-oxidation and anti-herpes simplex virus.

Morphological characteristics of Polygonum perfoliatum;

Perennial herb vines, up to 3 meters long. Stems climbing or creeping, slender and curved, multi-branched, branchlets with horns, scattered barbs, light green or slightly reddish. Leaves alternate, membranous, soft, shield-like triangle, 2~7 cm long, similar in width and length, truncated halberd at the base, or slightly heart-shaped, blunt and pointed at the top, glabrous, with small grooves along the veins on the back and long petiole.

Scattered inverted ditch thorns, stipules round, green, holding stems. Flowers are green and white, axillary spikes, floral axis with furrow thorns, calyx 5-parted, without petals, 8 stamens, ovary superior, room 1. Achenes are spherical, blue-black and hidden in calyx.